The Viral DIY Macrame Wall Hanging We Made (And Why I’d Do It Again)

The Viral DIY Macrame Wall Hanging We Made (And Why I’d Do It Again)

Remember 2021, when every home decor Instagram and YouTube channel was making colourful macrame wall hangings?

I was obsessed. The boho-modern vibe, the customizable colours, the fact that kids could help – it checked every box for me.

Then I looked up the price to buy one: $150-$300 for a decent-sized piece.

My immediate thought: “I can make this.”

My second thought: “My kids would LOVE to make this with me.”

So we did. My youngest kids and I spent a weekend creating a custom colorblock macrame wall hanging for our dining room. Total cost: about $60. Total fun: immeasurable.

It’s been hanging in our dining room for four years now, and I recently flanked it with two modern linear battery-operated lights that make it look even more intentional and defined.

Here’s exactly how we made it, what we learned, the mistakes I made (those picture hooks!), and why I’d absolutely do this project again.

Why I Chose This DIY Project

The appeal:

• Customizable colours – I could pull from our existing colour palette (we have these colours throughout our main floor)
• Kid-friendly project – My youngest kids could actually participate meaningfully
• Renter-friendly – Just hangs like any wall art, completely removable
• Budget-friendly – $60 DIY vs. $150-300 to buy
• Unique piece – Not mass-produced, totally custom to our home

The trend context:

In 2021, these colourful macrame wall hangings were EVERYWHERE. The boho-modern aesthetic was peaking, and this project hit the sweet spot between trendy and timeless.

Unlike your grandmother’s macrame plant hangers, these modern versions were graphic, geometric, and colorblock – appealing to way more people than traditional macrame.

I wanted in on the trend, but I wanted it customized to our home.

List of Materials:

• Piece of Pine Wood (1 x 2 or 3inch thick)
• Wood stain
• Macrame Yarn (4 bundles of 4mm)
• Rit Fabric Dye
• Staple gun
• Fabric Scissors
• Garbage Bags 
• Painters Tape 
• Buckets for mixing dye
• Sponges
• Picture Frame Hooks

What We Made: Our Custom Colorblock Design

Dimensions: Approximately 24″ wide x 36″ long (after cutting)

Colours: Pulled from our main floor palette

• Dark Green
• Teal
• Emerald
• Denim blue
• Black
• Charcoal Grey
• Natural cream (undyed sections)

Style: Horizontal colorblock stripes with uneven, organic edges

Where it lives: Dining room wall, now flanked by two modern linear battery-operated lights that define the piece beautifully

Materials List: What You’ll Need

List of Materials:

• Piece of Pine Wood (1 x 2 or 3inch thick)
• Wood stain
• Macrame Yarn (4 bundles of 4mm)
• Rit Fabric Dye
• Staple gun
• Fabric Scissors
• Garbage Bags 
• Painters Tape 
• Buckets for mixing dye
• Sponges
• Picture Frame Hooks

Most of these you can find at your local dollar store or hardware store:

For the base:

• 1×2 or 1×3 inch pine wood board (cut to desired width – I had Home Depot cut mine to 24″)
• Dark wood stain (I used leftover stain from another project)
• Foam brush for staining
• Staple gun and staples

For the macrame:

• 4 bundles of 4mm macrame yarn (natural/cream colour)
• Rit fabric dye in your chosen colours (we used 4 colours)
• Buckets for mixing dye
• Sponges for applying dye
• Painter’s tape (for taping out colour sections)
• Garbage bags (to protect surfaces)
• Paper towels

For finishing:

• Fabric scissors (regular scissors won’t cut it – this yarn is thick!)
• 2 picture frame hooks
• Level (for hanging)

Total cost: Approximately $60

Time investment: Weekend project (2-3 hours active work, plus drying time)

Step-by-Step: How We Made It

Step 1: Cut and Stain the Wood Board

I had the employees at Home Depot pre-cut a 1×2-inch pine board to 24″ wide. (Pro tip: Home Depot will do this for free – take advantage!)

Staining:

• Applied dark wood stain (leftover from another project – no need to buy new)
• Two coats with a foam brush
• Let dry for 48 hours

Why stain matters: The stained wood adds warmth and makes the finished piece look more high-end than raw wood.

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Step 2: Measure, Cut, and Attach Yarn

This is where the project really starts.

The process:

1. Cut yarn lengths approximately 6-7 feet long (this gives you extra length to work with and trim later)
2. Fold each strand in half
3. Loop the folded end over the wooden board on the back
4. Pull the loose ends through the loop (creates a secure attachment)
5. Use a staple gun to secure each loop to the board
6. Work across the entire board, filling it with yarn strands

Spacing: I left about 4-5 inches of excess yarn hanging off each side of the board (you’ll trim this later for clean edges)

How many strands? Enough to completely fill the board with no gaps. For a 24″ board, this was about 40-50 strands.

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Step 3: Tape Out Your Colour Pattern

This is where my kids got REALLY excited.

What we did:

• Laid the yarn-covered board flat
• Used painter’s tape to mark out horizontal sections for each colour
• Let the kids choose which colours went where
• Created uneven, organic stripes (not perfect horizontal lines – adds visual interest)

Why tape first: Gives you a visual guide and prevents dye from bleeding into sections you want to keep a different colour.

Pro tip: Take a photo of your taped pattern before you start dyeing. Easy reference if tape shifts.

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Step 4: Test Your Dye Colours

This step saved us from colour disasters.

Before dyeing the full piece, we:

• Cut small test pieces of yarn
• Mixed dye in buckets following Rit dye instructions
• Dipped test pieces to see colour depth
• Adjusted dye concentration based on results

What we learned: Less water = deeper, more saturated colour. More water = softer, pastel tones.

We wanted vibrant colours, so we used less water than the package suggested.

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Step 5: Dye Each Section

Our method: Sponge application

I’ve seen people use elastic bands and dip-dye methods, but with kids helping, sponge application gave us the most control.

The process:

1. Mix dye in buckets (one colour at a time)
2. Use sponges to dab dye onto each taped section
3. Work strand by strand to ensure even coverage
4. Keep garbage bags and paper towels underneath to catch drips
5. Leave some sections undyed (natural cream colour) for contrast

Why sponges worked:

• Kids could help without making a huge mess
• More control over colour placement
• Less dye bleeding between sections than dip-dyeing

Messy reality: This WILL be messy. Wear old clothes, cover your work surface, and embrace the chaos.

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Step 6: Let It Dry (Patience Required)

Drying time: 2 full days

Why so long?

• Thick yarn holds a LOT of moisture
• We hung it over our barstools with garbage bags and paper towels underneath to catch drips
• Didn’t want ANY dye runoff on our beige rental walls

Patience tip: Don’t rush this. Cutting or hanging before it’s fully dry risks dye transfer.

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Step 7: Cut the Ends

Once fully dry, it’s time to trim.

The process:

1. Hang the piece (or lay it flat)
2. Use FABRIC SCISSORS (regular scissors will struggle with this thick yarn)
3. Cut strands to the desired length, aiming for as even as possible
4. Create a slight diagonal or curved edge for visual interest (totally optional)

My approach: I hung it on the wall first, then trimmed while it was hanging. Easier to see the final length and make adjustments.

Pro tip: Cut conservatively first. You can always trim more, but you can’t add it back.

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Step 8: Add Picture Frame Hooks

Here’s where I made my mistake.

I attached two picture frame hooks to the back of the wood board – one on each end.

My error: Placed them too high on the board, so they’re slightly visible when hung on the wall.

Lesson learned: Before nailing hooks in place, hold the board up to the wall and check where hooks will sit relative to the top edge. They should be hidden behind the board, not peeking over.

Correct placement: About 1-2 inches down from the top edge of the board.

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Step 9: Hang It on the Wall

What you need:

• Level (non-negotiable – crooked macrame haunts you forever)
• 4 hands (seriously, get someone to help)
• Nails or command strips rated for the weight

The process:

1. Measure and mark where hooks will go on the wall
2. Use a level to ensure the marks are even
3. Have one person hold the piece while the other checks the level
4. Hang and step back to admire

Recent upgrade: I recently added two modern linear battery-operated lights flanking the macrame. They’re mounted on either side and create a defined, gallery-style look. The lights make the whole piece feel more intentional and highlight the colours beautifully.

What We Spent vs. What It Would Have Cost

Our DIY cost breakdown:

• Pine board: $8 (Home Depot)
• Wood stain: $0 (had on hand)
• Macrame yarn (4 bundles): $32 (craft store)
• Rit fabric dye (4 colours): $12
• Staples, hooks, supplies: $8

Total: ~$60

To buy a similar piece online: $150-300+, depending on size and seller

Savings: $90-240

Plus, the priceless experience of making it with my kids.

What Worked (And What I’d Do Differently)

What Worked:

✅ Sponge dye application – Easy for kids, controlled colour placement
✅ Taping out pattern first – Visual guide prevented mistakes
✅ Testing dye on sample yarn – Avoided colour disasters
✅ Cutting while hung – Easier to see final length
✅ Staining the wood – Made it look high-end

What I’d Do Differently:

⚠️ Place picture hooks lower – So they’re not visible
⚠️ Buy extra yarn – I had just enough; extra would’ve been nice for experimenting
⚠️ Use even thicker yarn – 4mm worked, but 5-6mm would create more dramatic texture

Four Years Later: Do I Still Love It?

Yes.

It’s been hanging in our dining room since 2021. The colours still pop. The yarn hasn’t faded or frayed. And it still makes me smile every time I walk past it.

Recent upgrade: Adding the two battery-operated linear lights on either side was a game-changer. They frame the piece perfectly and make it look more defined and gallery-worthy. The whole vignette feels intentional now, not just “a wall hanging we made.”

Would I make it again? Absolutely. It was fun, relatively easy, budget-friendly, and created a totally custom piece for our home.

Is it still trendy? The 2020-2021 peak has passed, but good design is good design. Ours works because the colours are pulled from our existing palette. It doesn’t scream “I followed a 2020 trend” – it just looks like custom art.

Is This Project Worth It?

You should make this if:

• You want a custom, colourful statement piece
• You have kids who’d love a messy, creative project
• You’re willing to invest a weekend
• You want to save $100+ vs. buying
• You like the boho-modern aesthetic

Skip this project if:

• You hate mess (this gets MESSY)
• You don’t have space to let it dry for 2 days
• You’d rather just buy a finished piece
• Colourful isn’t your style

For us, it was 100% worth it.

The kids still talk about “our macrame project.” It’s a conversation starter when guests come over. And every time I see it, I’m reminded that custom doesn’t have to mean expensive – sometimes it just means being willing to DIY.

Tips for Success

Before you start:

• Gather ALL materials first (nothing worse than stopping mid-project for a supply run)
• Cover your work surface completely (dye stains EVERYTHING)
• Wear clothes you don’t care about
• Have realistic expectations (it won’t look like a $300 Etsy piece, and that’s okay)

During the project:

• Let kids pick colours (their investment = their excitement)
• Don’t stress about perfection (organic, uneven edges add character)
• Take photos at each stage (great for memories and reference)

After it’s done:

Step back and appreciate that you MADE this.

Final Thoughts: DIY Isn’t Dead

In a world of fast furniture and mass-produced decor, making something with your own hands (and your kids’ hands) hits different.

This macrame wall hanging cost us $60 and a weekend. It gave us a custom art piece, a family memory, and proof that you don’t need to buy everything – sometimes you can just make it.

Four years later, it’s still one of my favourite pieces in our home. Not because it’s perfect, but because it’s ours.

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Have you made a viral DIY project? How did it turn out? Drop your DIY wins (or disasters) in the comments!